Hello,
first big thanks for to JonathanG for the review he wrote.
I now upgraded from NDX to NSS 333 - and can only confirm what Jonathan wrote:
That was an extrem step of improvement - like going from an NAC 32-5 or NAC 102 to a NAC 52/NAC 252 - so much more detail and grip - when playing in CD quality or UpnP stream of my 24/192 wav files.
I had it running now for 1 week without NDX300 - and was nearly not able to do my normal activities as I wanted to listen this or that…
Until now (I added the NPX 300 yesterday) the NPX did not make a BIG difference - but he made one, especially in bass support. The low A of the organ in Hindemith Chamber Music N.7, 2nd movement, last bar, was clear and audible without NDX300 - but with the NDX300 it became more easy and precise (listening with my Audio Physic Minos Subwoofer -).
Some more details on my subjective findings.
Main reason for the upgrade was for me the broken display from my NDX - and that it was not able to play my DSD128 recordings - so I had to convert them to 24/192. DSD128 works fine - and gives you all the details you expext.
One side node - of course that was discussed in many forums: The more information you have per time, the more detailed stage, harmonics (especially for voices) and composition of a sound.
It makes a difference playing a low string on an e-bass - recorded on CD that will be one sound - on a 24/192 you feel/hear the string vibrating.
My standard tune for “calibrating and reviewing” my equipment is Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon: A Great Gig in the Sky: - in the beginning the end of the phrase the man is saying, at about 2’20" when she is making a gutural sound when singing, and of course the overall stage/…
CD-Quality streamed from TIDAL (Remastered 2023), which sounds better than my CD rip from the 30th aniversary SACD 2003: Compared to NDX much more stage, the bass is better separated, everything sounds cleaner, still it is not possible at all to hear the end of the phrase the man is saying.
If you know that the gutural sound is there, you may think that there is something with NSS 333 - on NDX it just sounded as the notes sung before.
With DSD128 (recorded with Tascam DA-3000: Signal Chain: Dark Side of the Moon, white record, Audio Technica PTG 33 / SME V / Garrard 401, Prefix, Supercap (Olive, Recapped), NAC252, TASCAM DA-3000) what the man is saying in the beginning is nearly understandable (on record it stays still clearer), the stage is much better, basses sound more separated and precise vibrating (you feel how the string vibrates), the female voice has much more harmonics - space above and more dynamics and detail. You can hear the gutural vibrations of her voice at 2’20".
Subjective Percentages: CD: 40%, NDX 24/192: 70%, NSS 333: 85% (expecting the NPX to give another 5 %), Record on my Garrard- now with Superline: 100%. (Live experience I would rate: 150%-200% in that scale).
Other findings:
Digital Concert Hall of Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (24bit/48kHz): NDX vs NSS333: Much more space - and even more dynamics. Now I can distinguish easily the violas from violins by listening - that was not so easy with the NDX (I play viola (and a little bit violin)myself).
Definitely I enjoy much more the Digital Concert Hall now with the NSS333. Thanks to Naim!
Tidal Connect: Of couse I am upset, that Max is not yet available - but it is supposed to come, but already some streams were sooo much more detailed, dynamic, fun to listen to - like Supertramp: School, Peter Fox: Stadtaffe, B-52’s Love Shack (Still my DSD128 converted to 24/192 recording from the Maxi-Single record sounds much better than Tidal).
Sad to say, but the NDX feels the age - after listening to the NSS for one week the NDX is dull.
To sum up: NSS333 is a very big step in upgrading - it is worth the money it costs.
Enjoy listening yourself to your music - or better perform yourself.
Peter